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What’s the difference between laminated and tempered glass?

So you’ve gotten to the step of choosing the type of glass for the windows in your new garage door, and your family’s safety is first and foremost in your mind. Both laminated and tempered glass have been mentioned. Now is the time to understand the difference between them.

Need help?

For assistance in making the right choice when time comes to choose the type of windows for your garage door, contact us. If you wish, we can supply you with a free, written quotation.

What is laminated glass?

It’s made from two or more panes of glass separated by an interlayer of vinyl. If broken or punctured, the glass pieces stay bonded to the vinyl interlayer, lending some flexibility to the glass and greatly reducing shattering. This is why it is used in modern windshields. In addition, this type of glass acts as a sound reducer and blocks 99% of UV light transmission. In general, laminated glass is more expensive than tempered glass.

Laminated Glass

What is tempered glass?

Extreme heating and cooling of standard glass produces a glass that is four to five times stronger than the original. If it does break, it shatters into small, dull, less harmful pieces, and has been used in side and back car windows. You should know that a thermopane window can have tempered glass on only one side, that of the garage interior or on both sides. For an all-glass garage door, like the California or G‑4400, it is suggested to ask for thermopane glass tempered on both sides.

Tempered Glass

The best choice?

This requires you to properly analyze your needs:

for strength plus resistance to breakage, tempered glass is often the best choice;